Cisco DNA Center vs Meraki Dashboard comparison

Cisco DNA Center and Meraki Dashboard are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Cisco DNA Center is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.0, while Meraki Dashboard is ranked #20 with an average rating of 8.5. Cisco DNA Center holds a 1.4% mindshare in NMS, compared to Meraki Dashboard’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Cisco DNA Center users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of Meraki Dashboard users who would recommend it.

Cisco DNA Center

Read 41 Cisco DNA Center reviews

1,783 Views
1,076 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Meraki Dashboard

Read 55 Meraki Dashboard reviews

2,529 Views
1,859 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Cisco DNA Center

Meraki Dashboard

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Meraki Dashboard and Cisco DNA Center compete in the network management category. While Meraki Dashboard is favored for small to medium-sized businesses due to its simplicity and cloud management features, Cisco DNA Center is more suitable for large-scale enterprises, offering enhanced security and integration options.

Features: Meraki Dashboard is noted for its ease of use with cloud management, multilayer filtering, and integrated analytics. It is particularly suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. Cisco DNA Center provides robust tools ideal for larger networks, enhanced AI-driven security features, and seamless integration with Cisco infrastructure, making it comprehensive for enterprise-level needs.

Room for Improvement: Meraki Dashboard users point out licensing issues, costly pricing, and configuration complexity. Cisco DNA Center users criticize it for high costs and deployment complexities, including upgrade challenges, while also highlighting a need for better integration capabilities and improved reporting features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Meraki Dashboard offers straightforward cloud-based deployment across public and private environments, although users report mixed experiences with customer support, particularly regarding wait times. Cisco DNA Center, being primarily on-premises, poses deployment challenges requiring technical expertise. However, its technical support is well-regarded for responsiveness and effectiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Meraki Dashboard follows a subscription-based model that is perceived as expensive, impacting ROI potential despite its functionality. Cisco DNA Center is also costly, justified mainly for larger enterprises due to its extensive features. Both solutions require substantial investment but can deliver good ROI when fully utilized in the right organizational context.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco DNA Center vs. Meraki Dashboard Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center vs. Meraki Dashboard

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Cisco DNA Center

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

12th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (1st), Network Automation (2nd)

Meraki Dashboard

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

20th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Cisco DNA Center is 1.4%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki Dashboard is 1.3%, down from 2.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

AvrahamSonenthal

Senior Network Engineer at Inside Global

Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features

The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage. We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks. The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective. Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play. I rate it an eight.

Read full review

Bilal-Ahmed

IT Manager at Fawaz

Seamless connectivity and comprehensive control over network devices

All of the features we are looking for are already in control. I think those features, which we are not currently utilizing, are already there. For example, the control for the cameras and everything else. The cameras are not connected through Meraki, but all other devices are on Meraki networks.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"We can monitor all devices and get the required information using the product."

"The solution has the capability to scale."

"We have many people from the team who manage a lot of devices. By using Cisco DNA Center, it has taken some of that burden away, we are impressed with it. We did the investment in CAPEX, but in the OPEX was very low."

"The product gives a consolidated view."

"It enables monitoring of various components such as access points, switch cards, and other elements within the company's solutions."

"The best feature of Cisco DNA Center is the visibility page, where you can see everything on the dashboard, and you don't have to be a technical person to view the issues."

"I like that we can easily configure any new hardware. It's also easy to deploy and easy to troubleshoot."

"It gives us automation capabilities for pushing out the configuration to branch networks. It also provides visibility into the health of user network devices."

More Cisco DNA Center pros

"What I found most valuable in the Meraki Dashboard is straight monitoring of the different devices, as well as the ability to easily set up VPNs, for example, both Meraki client VPNs and non-Meraki VPNs for different organizations that work with my company. I also like that the tool is a really good firewall."

"The ability to view the entire project stack, including the camera, features, and routers, which I believe are the most important or relevant components."

"The overall product rating is ten out of ten."

"The ease-of-use and the analytics are really effective tools."

"Some of the features I have found valuable are the ease of access, simple configuration, and monitoring."

"Meraki Dashboard centralizes control of all our equipment into one cloud-based console, so we can manage it from anywhere. We can resolve problems remotely outside of business hours because it is on the cloud. You can use the dashboard to change security settings or configure routers and switches."

"Meraki Dashboard does not require a lot of maintenance. Cisco tells communicates through the Meraki Dashboard web client, it will automatically send updates to the equipment. They will send you an email on what day the updates will take place. If you want to proceed, you can click on accept, or you can decline them and schedule the updates at another time."

"I like that Meraki Dashboard is a user-friendly product."

More Meraki Dashboard pros

Cons

"The features of Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime could have more parity."

"DNA Center has been on the market for a few years and they need to update it."

"The network, data center, and SD-WAN are all being treated as different services, but I would like to have only one solution to manage all of them."

"The cost is very high."

"There is a limitation with the number of VRFs that you can have in your network, and this has caused us problems with some customers."

"The solution's integration feature can be better."

"The solution's technical support is an area with which my company's clients have a problem. Cisco doesn't provide good technical support unless a user has a big account that Cisco wants to retain."

"The solution needs to improve the dashboard."

More Cisco DNA Center cons

"Meraki lacks their own software for connecting to the VPN which creates some issues."

"There is a need for price reductions in developing countries, as the cost of Meraki is quite high."

"It's a very complex system. Customers have told me that sometimes there are lots of advanced features that are available and that you can change in the dashboard, but sometimes it's very hard to know what they are."

"When users are trying to roam from one location to another location, geographical tracking would be helpful."

"Some features could be added."

"Not a lot of training is available."

"I would like to receive decent notification alerts regarding the license's expiry. Or any help on correcting or optimizing licenses, because in certain circumstances you can add a license but it's the wrong licensing. However, the Dashboard adds the license in some way, and you do not utilize it. You can simply extend the license's expiration date."

"Price could be reduced."

More Meraki Dashboard cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco DNA Center is a licensed product with multiple levels of licensing available such as basic, advanced, and essential. I don't have the exact figure, but Cisco DNA Center is costly. For example, the box has information about the essential license and costs a considerable amount of money. You need to pay extra to use advanced features in Cisco DNA Center. My company sees Cisco DNA Center as a solution that's worth the money, which is why it invested in the solution. If you want centralized management for your network, especially when upgrading it, Cisco DNA Center is perfect, but it's more suitable for a large-scale rather than a small-scale network."

"I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with ten being expensive."

"We have a three-year license with them."

"The product is very costly."

"The price of the solution is expensive. The hardware is licensed on the device, but the hardware on the server is expensive."

"The price could be better. It's a very expensive tool."

"Our licensing agreement is for three years."

"The tool's licensing may not come across as something that may be friendly for users."

More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice

"Meraki Dashboard's pricing is reasonable. It is sold yearly, typically for one, three, or five years. I rate its pricing a five out of ten."

"You don't have to pay for the dashboard."

"It is said to be expensive."

"Typically, the license model is for one, three, and five years. They can just be a bit more flexible around it and look into providing an option for 24 months."

"Meraki Dashboard is a utility and portal that's part of the Meraki solution."

"The licensing fees are $180 USD, per AP, for three years."

"The Meraki Dashboard has more competitive pricing."

"The solution is currently the most expensive on the market."

More Meraki Dashboard pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

23%

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?

The cost is very high.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?

The system is working fine for me currently.

See all answers

What do you like most about Meraki Dashboard?

We greatly utilize the network because we can plug it into the DNS, VPN, or equipment. It's very good. Meraki Dashboard enhances wireless network management. We appreciate its flexibility, as it al...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki Dashboard?

The cost of the Meraki solution is high, which may not be affordable for smaller companies, especially in developing countries.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Meraki Dashboard?

There is a need for price reductions in developing countries, as the cost of Meraki is quite high. Additionally, it would be beneficial if Meraki Dashboard could integrate more Cisco devices such a...

See all answers

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Compared 6% of the time

Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 6% of the time

NetBrain vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 14% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 6% of the time

Mist AI and Cloud vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 6% of the time

Juniper Mist Premium Analytics vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 5% of the time

More Meraki Dashboard Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center

April 2025

Download Cisco DNA Center product report

Buyer's Guide

Meraki Dashboard

April 2025

Download Meraki Dashboard product report

Also Known As

DNA Center

No data available

Overview

Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?

Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.

What benefits should users consider?

Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

Cisco

Meraki Dashboard is a comprehensive cloud-based platform that offers centralized management and control for all Meraki networking and security products. It provides a user-friendly interface, allowing administrators to easily monitor and configure their network infrastructure from anywhere. With real-time visibility, troubleshooting becomes effortless, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing downtime.

The intuitive dashboard offers a holistic view of the network, enabling quick identification of potential issues and proactive measures. It simplifies network deployment and scaling, with zero-touch provisioning and automatic firmware updates. The robust security features include advanced threat protection, content filtering, and VPN connectivity.

Meraki Dashboard also offers powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into network usage, application performance, and user behavior. With its seamless integration and scalability,

Meraki Dashboard is the ideal solution for organizations of all sizes, ensuring efficient network management and enhanced productivity.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Coop eG, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Priefert Manufacturing, Century Care Management, Clifton College, Zürs Ski Resort, Capital FM Arena, MAXI Autohöfe

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center vs. Meraki Dashboard

April 2025

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